Because I suddenly realized it's been nearly a week since I blogged!

Weather Report: It's 53 degrees and rainy. Where did summer go????? I refuse to give up my flip flops. Jeans, a sweater and flip-flops. Yeah. That's stylish. Not even three weeks ago it was 102 degrees. That's right. A fifty degree swing.

The Gremlins have three more days of school. THREE. MORE. DAYS. That's it. Looooooord help me. I fear a long summer ahead with me on deadline. I may be calling grandma to come and save me. A lot.

My half marathon is just over a week away. Today I bought new running shoes - finally - and proceeded to freak out when I realized the size the clerk sold me was a 10!!! (I never looked at the size as I was trying them on, and when she kept telling me I needed more toe room, I nodded like I had a freakin' clue what I was doing. Who knew you were supposed to have lots of room in your running shoes? Maybe this will help my neuromas.) Normally I wear an 8.5.

The DH is a god. Last night he came home, took one look at me and realized I was stressing over books and deadlines and promo stuff. So he's kicking me out of the house. A night away at the beach with my web designer next week so we can finish up my website and get that thing done. I love him. I really do. He takes good care of me.

My buddy Kendra and I are taking a handgun class in July. This weekend I have to be "fitted" for my gun. That sounds so cool, doesn't it? Can't wait for this one. Kendra just finished up a citizen's police academy course. She had a blast. I'm planning to take one in the fall.

Tomorrow I'm blogging about series over at the Mid-willamette Valley Chapter blog. Stop by and tell me what you think about series. Specifically, I want to know when a series gets to be too long.

Oh, and I saw the new Indy movie! I had mixed feelings. Tell me what you thought of it.

Yup, that's me. Incognito. Hiding out in my revision cave. I've come up for air just long enough to let you know I'm still alive. I think. (I hope!)

Nothing new to report on the writing front. Just hoping to get through these revisions in the next week or so so I can get back to Shane & Hailey's story. I'm really starting to get into those two.

If you're around on Saturday, hop over to the Bradford Bunch. I'm guest blogging there. Still have no clue on what though. ;) Which reminds me I need to come up with a topic and get that article written.

Oh! And I'm back on my promotion bandwagon. Thinking, thinking, always thinking. What's the most effective promotional tool you've ever seen a writer use? Websites, blogs, bookmarks, myspace, book signings, book trailers...other ideas? I'm curious what's caught your attention as both a writer and a reader. Several years ago at the Reno RWA convention, Kresley Cole gave out "sexy water" in the goodie room. (At least that's what my good friend Piper called it). Basically bottled water with Kresley's sexy historical book cover as the label. I thought that was clever and different from the "standard" bookmarks other authors left out. Piper did too. She kept that water bottle for I-don't-know-how-long and kept rewashing it and reusing it. Every month she brought it to our RWA meeting. Now that's effective marketing in my opinion.

Shameless Promotion

Big shout-out to my good friend and chapter mate, Genene Valleau, for her debut release THIS Friday, April 4th:

***
Hello, everyone!

To celebrate my first release, SONGS OF THE HEART, this Friday, April 4, I'm having a cyber release party. The party will include interviews with characters from the book and drawings for prizes every four hours, starting at midnight and wrapping up at 8:00 p.m. with the grand prize drawing. I'll have a special blog setup to ask questions and make comments.

Please join me by visiting my Web site at http://www.genenevalleau.com/ and follow the clicks!

***

Head on over and help support Genene on this big day!